Alpina's blog post - Herr Schneider

Dear friends, don't be worried about old Alpina, she can be quite a tough bird; besides my right wrist nothing hurts today, and the bruise on my knee will heal soon. When I was a young country lass, I always had bruised knees; my dad liked that, and he said this was the right stuff (he never had a son).

Some minutes after I came home last night, the doorbell went and when I opened, old Herr Schneider from opposite was standing outside and handing me a lovely box of chocolate. "Fräulein Alpina", he said (he is about the last person who calls me Fräulein), "Fräulein Alpina, my wife and I hope that you have got over your bad fall. We talked about what we would have done if you had been seriously hurt: we would have come and wrapped you into a blanket before anybody could have seen you like that."

Good old souls - they saw my embarrassing state and would have come and saved me from exposure. What is better than having such neighbours watch over you?

When I look up, all I see is roses .... they are fantastic, a sea of red, "a token of our love" was on the card. (Mind you, the word LOVE is not one which Phillip uses easily ...). On Saturday morning, he will be back - his stay at Torino will be over for the moment and he will have some free days. He will go back there again for the Closing Ceremony together will his Editor, as his guide and knowledgeable companion.

Now tonight is jacuzzi night at Joerg's, starring Joerg's Nude Angels Elsie, Tanja, and Alpina. Tanja has supper with me first, and then we're walking over to them, all intent on ripping our clothes off whenever we are gently invited to.